Not Olympia's finest hour for government transparency

It is wonderful news the state won't be facing a government shutdown and that a major transportation investment package with good reforms is moving forward but the last week, the past 72 hrs in particular, have been very embarrassing for the cause of an open and transparent legislative process . . . READ MORE

3 states without budget using continuing resolution to avoid government shutdown

South Carolina, North Carolina and New Hampshire are in the same boat as Washington with a major budget fight threatening a government shutdown on July 1. Those three states, however, are using a continuing resolution to keep government open while budget negotiations continue . . . READ MORE

Don't forget the full context for proposed capital gains taxes in Washington

I know I’ve already written about the proposed capital gains tax several times but I keep seeing the same phrasing used to discuss it without the context of what it would mean for the state in both legal and competitive purposes . . . READ MORE

Acting State Auditor fights for dedicated performance audit funds

Both the most recent House and Senate budget proposals continue to raid the voter-approved dedicated I-900 performance audit funds for the State Auditor. The House budget transfers $6 million from the performance audit account for general spending. The Senate budget appropriates nearly $11 million of the dedicated funds to be spent by other agencies . . . READ MORE